Bear rug

Far North

Far North

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Apologies if I posted in the wrong section.
I have no previous experience with taxidermy services. I have come into possession of a polar bear hide. It has all the proper documentation and stuff.
I am hoping to have the skin tanned to preserve it with an eye to doing a rug mount in the future. Is that something that can be done or should I get it all done at once? What kind of cost am I looking at for either option on a 8ft hide?
Any suggestions for a taxidermist in Edmonton?
 
I had a 6ft black bear made into a rug. I think it was about $1200 at the time, about 10 years ago. You might as well go for the whole shebang and get it done. Once tanned the clock is ticking on how long you can get it made into a rug. The taxidermist will rehydrate the tanned hide to fit over the form. If the tanned hide is to old it will literally start coming apart and your hopes of a nice rug will be a big disappointment. I waited 4 years after tanning to have the rug made and it was pushing it. That has been my experience anyway.
 
I'm sure the cost has changed, but it seems that a rug is anywhere between $250 and $300 per linear foot.
 
Presently have a big black bear (400 lbs.) being made into a rug. I optioned two layers of felt backing and a closed mouth mount. Price will about 1600.00 with tax. This price is from a reputable taxidermist with a real talent. Things are no longer cheap.

Darryl
 
madtrapper143 said:
Presently have a big black bear (400 lbs.) being made into a rug. I optioned two layers of felt backing and a closed mouth mount. Price will about 1600.00 with tax. This price is from a reputable taxidermist with a real talent. Things are no longer cheap.

Darryl
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OMG, I'm old. It was $275.00 for mine all in in Grande Prairie back in '82.
 
Had a 350lber done into a real nice rug in 2019. Paid about $900 all in.
Look up Artistry in Motion. Great work, good prices and a guaranteed completion date or your money back!
Ship it to them, that's what I did.
 
Mount Sweetness said:
Had a 350lber done into a real nice rug in 2019. Paid about $900 all in.
Look up Artistry in Motion. Great work, good prices and a guaranteed completion date or your money back!
Ship it to them, that's what I did.
Click to expand...

Prices seem to vary by area as well. I'd be looking for a taxidermist familiar with the animal in question, a Newfie wouldn't be my choice to mount an elk. :redface:

Grizz
 
The taxidermist I used for my last bear rug (about 30 years ago) told me the skin needed to be "wet-tanned" and then stored frozen until the rug was to be made. Can't tell you much more than that, except that after a couple years in the freezer, I had the rug made (felt backed, with some sort of third layer between skin and felt), open mouth. It was hung on a wall all that time, dusted and carefully vacuumed occasionally, and still looks great. Needed the nose and eyes touched up a couple times due to slight cracking in low humidity, wood-stove-heated winter air.

Keep in mind that calling it a "rug" is a bit of a misnomer. A bear rug placed on the floor, even in low-traffic areas, looks like crap in short order...don't ask how I know...:)
 
jjohnwm said:
The taxidermist I used for my last bear rug (about 30 years ago) told me the skin needed to be "wet-tanned" and then stored frozen until the rug was to be made. Can't tell you much more than that, except that after a couple years in the freezer, I had the rug made (felt backed, with some sort of third layer between skin and felt), open mouth. It was hung on a wall all that time, dusted and carefully vacuumed occasionally, and still looks great. Needed the nose and eyes touched up a couple times due to slight cracking in low humidity, wood-stove-heated winter air.

Keep in mind that calling it a "rug" is a bit of a misnomer. A bear rug placed on the floor, even in low-traffic areas, looks like crap in short order...don't ask how I know...:)
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Buddy's dog did a number on his, he was not amused.

Grizz
 
Western Tannery in Edmonton.

Talk to them about pricing, it’s typically by the foot. Once they receive the hide, tell them what expression you want on the bear’s face, how you want the felt (color/trimmed up, etc).

What state is your hide in? Is it fleshed/dry? Is there still meat on it? If it isn’t dried/properly cleaned, sprinkle a ton of borax or salt on it, roll it up, put it in a garbage bag and freeze it.

Edit: depending on size you’re probably looking at $2000-$2500
 
Is Selzer's still active in Regina? I remember being in awe of the mounts in their front room.

I want to echo the bit about where to show it. Polar bear hairs are hard! You won't be rolling around on it on the floor with your sweetheart. Suggest folding it along the spine and display it on a saw-horse style frame.

edit - Sellsted Taxidermy, 109 Park Ave, Regina, SK S4N 0N2
 
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Taxidermy prices are insane nowadays but you pay for what you get. There is a fellow in southern AB who is the best I have seen In Canada for waterfowl and he charges $2000 to do a goose mount in a flying pose. That is double the cost of the shoulder mount my wife had done of her whitetail! As much as I like the guys work I passed and had a nice Specklebelly done elsewhere for $650. No it did not turn out as nice as the other guys work but it's decent enough and it's hanging in the man cave - spare bedroom - office. It still makes me smile when I look at it as it reminds me of the hunt I got it on..
 
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